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There’s more than just tonkotsu

Ready to enjoy a delicious update of a Japanese staple? Ramen Raijin is taking Toronto ramen to the next level.

Tokyo Shoyu Ramen

Co-owner Hiroshi’s favourite, and the perfect balance of chicken broth and
a stronger flavour.

Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen

Raijin’s #1 selling bowl, with the richness of tonkotsu and just enough spice.

Gyokai Tonkotsu Shoyu

A surprisingly tasty twist on a classic, enriched with seafood oil.

Hungry for more? Let’s dig in!

If you’re a ramen aficionado who has been slurping since the first Toronto ramen-ya opened in the late 2000s, you’re probably wondering what’s next for ramen in the city. Well, Ramen Raijin has the answer.

The restaurant recently moved from Gerrard up to Yonge and Wellesley, inspiring a stylish renovation and a refresh of their menu. Raijin still features its impressive selection of non-ramen dishes, but co-owner Hiroshi Yoshida has expanded their ramen offerings with hopes to add still more.

If you’re a lover of the traditional tonkotsu (pork broth), Raijin has still got you covered. “When people are introduced to ramen,” Hiroshi tells me, “they love tonkotsu. It is thick, rich and garlicky, with a very strong flavour.”

I love tonkotsu, but was looking for something a little different, so I tried the Gyokai Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen on Hiroshi’s recommendation. Though it is pork-broth-based, it is flavoured using house-made seafood oil. The ramen had the rich thickness that I expected of tonkotsu, but the seafood oil gave it additional depth without being shy.

“Some people think that ramen can only be tonkotsu,” Hiroshi tells me. “I want to make next-level ramen, to show that there is a lot more to it.” Hiroshi’s next-level ramen includes the smoother, more subtle flavour of chicken broth, which still offers a surprising amount of complexity. For Ramen Raijin’s grand reopening, they added Tokyo Shoyu Ramen to the menu, featuring chashu pork and a chicken broth base.

However, this is just the start of Hiroshi’s ramen experimentation. He is eager to further expand the menu in the near future, using fresh new ingredients like avocado and even beets.

One more feature of the new Wellesley location is Yoshida Shoten: a counter that is reminiscent of the best parts of a Japanese convenience store, or konbini, and is open daily from 8 am. Ramen Raijin staff stock the counter with freshly prepared food, like bento boxes, Japanese wraps and onigiri rice balls. The Yoshida Shoten counter also offers Japanese drinks, candy and snacks.

Ramen and Donburi Combo

Looking for a little extra? Add a donburi rice bowl to any of Raijin’s ramen to make a combo.

Bento box

Far more portable than ramen! Try one of the delicious bento boxes, prepared fresh for takeout.